Remote speaker microphone

Abstract

A remote speaker microphone having a directional microphone, a speaker, and a housing. The housing has a first portion sized to contain the speaker and a second portion sized to contain the directional microphone. The second portion defines a front port positioned adjacent the front surface of the directional microphone and a rear port positioned adjacent the rear surface of the directional microphone. The housing is configured to minimize the distance that sound waves travel within the housing before impacting on the sound receiving surfaces of the microphone.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A remote speaker microphone, comprising:
 a directional microphone having front and rear surfaces configured to receive sound waves; 
 a speaker; and 
 a housing, said housing comprising: 
 (1) a first portion having a first lateral depth of a size to contain said speaker within said first portion; and 
 (2) a second portion having a second lateral depth smaller than said first lateral depth, said second portion being of a size to contain said directional microphone within said second portion, said second portion defining a front port and a rear port, the front surface of the directional microphone being positioned adjacent said front port and the rear surface of the directional microphone being positioned adjacent said rear port. 
 
     
     
       2. A remote speaker microphone as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said first portion has an upper end; and said second portion protrudes upwardly from said upper end of said first portion. 
     
     
       3. A remote speaker microphone as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said first portion has an upper left end and an upper right end; and said second portion protrudes from said upper left end of said first portion. 
     
     
       4. A remote speaker microphone as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said second portion has a front surface and a rear surface, and said second portion has a thickness defined by the distance between the front and rear surfaces; and wherein the thickness of said directional microphone is defined by the distance between its said front and rear surfaces; and wherein the thickness of said second portion is substantially the same as the thickness of said directional microphone. 
     
     
       5. A remote speaker microphone as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the thickness of said second portion is between about 105% and 175% of the thickness of the directional microphone. 
     
     
       6. A remote speaker microphone as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the thickness of said second portion is between 20% and 40% of the thickness of the first portion. 
     
     
       7. A remote speaker microphone as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said second portion is configured to provide a visual indication of the location of the directional microphone to an end user. 
     
     
       8. A remote speaker microphone as set forth in  claim 1 , and further comprising a push-to-talk button disposed on said first portion. 
     
     
       9. A remote speaker microphone as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the positioning of said directional microphone within said second portion defines a zone of microphone sensitivity; and wherein said speaker has an axis of radiation; and wherein said second portion is disposed relative to said first portion so as to direct said zone of microphone sensitivity away from said axis of radiation of said speaker. 
     
     
       10. A remote speaker microphone as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said directional microphone comprises an electret microphone. 
     
     
       11. A speaker microphone assembly, comprising:
 a microphone having a front surface and a rear surface, said microphone having a first thickness corresponding to the distance between said front surface and said rear surface; 
 a speaker having a front surface and a rear surface, said speaker having a second thickness corresponding to the distance between said front surface and said rear surface, and wherein the second thickness of the speaker being greater than the first thickness of the directional microphone; and 
 a housing configured to contain the speaker and the microphone, said housing having a first portion sized to contain the speaker and a second portion sized to contain the microphone; 
 and wherein the first portion has a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the speaker; 
 and wherein the second portion has a thickness that is substantially equal to the thickness of the microphone. 
 
     
     
       12. A speaker microphone assembly as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said microphone comprises a directional microphone having front and rear surfaces configured to receive sound waves; and wherein said second portion defines a front port positioned adjacent the front surface of said directional microphone and a rear port positioned adjacent the rear surface of said directional microphone. 
     
     
       13. A remote speaker microphone apparatus as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said directional microphone comprises an electret microphone. 
     
     
       14. A speaker microphone assembly as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the thickness of said second portion is between about 105% and 175% of the thickness of said directional microphone. 
     
     
       15. A speaker microphone assembly as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said second portion protrudes from an upper end of said first portion. 
     
     
       16. A speaker microphone assembly as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said second portion protrudes from an upper left end of said first portion. 
     
     
       17. A speaker microphone assembly as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said second portion protrudes from said first portion and is configured to provide a visual indication to a user of the location of said microphone. 
     
     
       18. A hand-held remote speaker microphone, comprising:
 a directional microphone having front and rear surfaces configured to receive sound waves; 
 a speaker; and 
 a housing containing said directional microphone and said speaker, said housing having a first portion for location of said speaker and a second portion for location of said directional microphone, said first portion having a first depth and being sized to contain said speaker, said second portion having a second depth substantially smaller than said first depth and being sized to contain said directional microphone, said second portion extending outwardly from said first portion and being secured thereto.